Microloans offered for citizenship seekers in Maryland

Immigrant advocacy group Casa de Maryland launches program

Casa de Maryland launched a program Tuesday to offer small loans to legal permanent residents who would like to apply for U.S. citizenship, the nonprofit said.

The pilot program will loan 125 individuals each $680, the fee charged for naturalization, the immigrant advocacy group said in a statement.

Borrowers will be required to repay the loan over a six-month period at an interest rate of 8.5 percent to 9 percent, according to the statement. Applicants will pay a $25 application fee that will be returned upon full repayment of the loan, Casa said.

The program was initiated to make the cost of applying for citizenship more manageable for low-income immigrants, the organization said.